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Ankles Broken: Turbulence Strikes BA Flight Over Atlantic
14 Jan
Summary
- Two individuals sustained broken ankles due to unexpected turbulence.
- The incident occurred on a British Airways Airbus A380 over the Atlantic.
- A January 2026 report detailed the serious lower leg injuries sustained.
In late 2024, a British Airways flight from Los Angeles to London encountered a severe bout of turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean, south of Greenland. The disruption caused two individuals, a passenger and a crew member, to fall and sustain serious lower leg injuries, including broken ankles. The aircraft, an Airbus A380, was carrying 277 passengers and 24 crew members.
According to a January 2026 report by the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the turbulence occurred unexpectedly despite weather charts forecasting moderate conditions. While crew members received a pre-flight briefing that did not include significant weather warnings, they utilized live weather technology to make critical decisions in the air. These included activating passenger seat belt signs, securing cabin equipment, and ensuring crew members were seated.
British Airways stated that safety is paramount and their crews are trained for such rare events. The flight landed safely at London Heathrow, with onboard teams attending to the injured passenger and colleague. Passengers are advised to remain seated and buckled when seat belt signs are on, ideally throughout the flight, as turbulence can strike suddenly.
